"Father, if you hadn't sent me to Shuofang back then, how could I be where I am today?"
Whether it will bring good fortune or misfortune remains to be seen.
If I hadn't been sent to Shuofang to serve as a fiefdom, how could I have activated the Peerless Fiefdom System, gaining an army every second, and in just half a year, I would have such a strong and well-equipped force?
If anyone wants to harm him, they have to consider the existence of his 50,000-strong army beyond the Great Wall.
Liu Wei also knew that this imperial edict was issued by Liu Hong under the influence of Empress He's sweet words.
Liu Hong stopped, turned around, and asked, "Is that really what you think?"
"Although this journey was fraught with danger, it was also a test for your son, Father."
Liu Wei remained calm and composed, saying, "Didn't Father Emperor also send Yuan Shao and Cao Cao to secretly assist me on the way?"
"Later, my father restored my throne and granted me permission to establish my own domain and command tens of thousands of troops!"
"Thunder and rain, all are imperial grace!"
"Thunder and rain, are they all imperial favors?"
Liu Hong pondered for a while and found it very vivid. "It's rare that you still have such thoughts. I am very pleased."
"Some people say you deliberately delayed, arriving more than half a month late, to gain prestige in Guanzhong?"
Liu Wei knew that Liu Hong was concerned about this matter and that he had to give him a perfect explanation.
He immediately knelt before Liu Hong and said, "Your subject is indeed going to pay homage to our ancestors. I am offering this tribute based on my achievements in slaying the foreign tribes in the Hetao region. The gentry and common people of Guanzhong all praise me for this."
"Hmph! They're right, you really are." Liu Hong's face hardened. "What are you trying to do? Overstep your bounds?"
"No, the memorial texts I used at each mausoleum were in the name of Father Emperor, and I prayed for the ancestors to protect Father Emperor and grant him a long life."
"This prestige belongs to the Liu family, not just to me alone!"
Liu Wei seemed to have been prepared for this, and spoke slowly.
"What you say goes, but what proof do you have?"
“The gentry from Guanzhong were all present; they witnessed it firsthand and can all testify to it,” Liu Wei said with absolute certainty.
Liu Hong was taken aback for a moment, but then felt relieved and stopped asking about it.
Some censors kept telling him that Liu Wei was hoarding troops and wanted to rebel.
Liu Hong also shared this concern.
However, once the imperial decree summoned him to the capital to attend to the ailing emperor, Liu Wei eventually arrived.
Moreover, he only brought one hundred guards with him when he entered the capital.
Now he's entering the palace alone again. If he wanted to rebel, how could he dare to be so bold?
Liu Wei came directly to the palace without changing his clothes and knelt in front of him for half an hour.
This is enough to show that Liu Wei has no ulterior motives.
They walked around the main hall, and Liu Hong returned to his dragon bed and sat down.
Liu Wei stood to the side with his hands at his sides.
"My illness seems beyond saving. What are your thoughts on the matter of establishing an heir?"
Suddenly, Liu Hong's eyes turned incredibly sharp, piercing Liu Wei like a sword.
"Father, you will recover soon!"
"I dare not presume to discuss the matter of establishing an heir!"
Liu Wei hurriedly knelt down, "Your subject only wishes to expand the territory and pacify the surrounding barbarians. Matters of the court shall be decided by Father Emperor and his loyal ministers!"
This question sounds like Liu Hong is testing the waters.
Liu Wei could not possibly express his support for anyone, and even if he wanted to, he couldn't reveal it at this moment.
In the dark corners of the main hall, a murderous intent seemed to be lurking.
Liu Wei could already sense that if he answered carelessly, some peerless master might suddenly appear and kill him.
Liu Hong seemed dissatisfied with Liu Wei's answer.
His gaze sharpened, as if he wanted to see right through Liu Wei.
Despite his illness, this person, who had long held the highest position, still exuded such a powerful aura that it made people break out in a cold sweat.
Because he was the emperor, he held the power of life and death, and his words were law; a single sentence could decide a person's life or death.
Seeing that Liu Wei was avoiding the main point and not answering who he would choose, Liu Hong remained silent for a while before saying:
"I know my own illness well. At most a year, at least a few months, I will have to go to see my ancestors!"
"My son, I am very pleased with your achievements!"
"You arrived in Luoyang without even going to Beiman Mountain, and came straight to see me without removing your armor!"
Liu Hong took a close look at Liu Wei's robes and reached out to dust them off.
Liu Wei replied, "Your subject is also eager to see Father Emperor."
"Is that so? I understand your intentions."
Liu Hong dropped the subject.
He seemed to have talked a lot with Liu Wei all at once, and looked a little tired.
So I lay down.
"Father, please rest!"
"My son, as you can see, even with repairs and maintenance, the Han Dynasty is no longer as glorious as it once was!"
Liu Hong suddenly sighed, "I had no choice but to act in the affairs of the court! Do you think I don't know the intentions of Empress He and He Jin? I just had the will but not the power!"
What are your thoughts on the current situation?
Liu Wei pondered for a moment and said, "Is it absolutely necessary to tell me?"
"You must speak! Speak freely, and I will pardon you."
"A serious illness requires strong medicine. If we work diligently to govern, clean up the bureaucracy, and restore imperial power, then there is still much that can be done!"
Liu Wei replied without hesitation, "The Han Dynasty has had twenty-one emperors and is a powerful nation. Although it seems to be beset by internal and external troubles, the problem is actually mainly internal."
"If we eliminate the malignant tumors and stubborn diseases and vigorously reform, we can also prolong the nation's life for thousands of generations."
"What do you think a cancer is?" Liu Hong's eyes gleamed when he heard Liu Wei's words.
“They are relatives of the empress and eunuchs! They must be eliminated first, and then the Han Dynasty can be revitalized.”
Liu Wei immediately spoke up.
How to get rid of it?
Liu Wei met Liu Hong's burning gaze: "Having this cancer in my body is causing me unbearable pain. If I want to get rid of it, I must make the painful decision to cut it off completely."
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